Joseph W. Dixon was approved to be the next fire chief in Baltimore County Monday night.
Dixon retired from Gainesville Fire Rescue in Florida in September after three years.
The county council unanimously confirmed Dixon, and other leadership positions during their session Monday, The Baltimore Banner reports.
Dixon, who will be the county's first black fire chief, is no stranger to the area. He served for nearly 30 years with neighboring Howard County, MD, Department of Fire and Rescue Services.
"Keeping our communities safe is among the most sacred responsibilities of local government, and finding the right person to lead the fire department and its valued members is critical to its success," Baltimore County Executive Johnny Olszewski told WBAL TV in September, when Dixon was selected. "I look forward to chief Dixon getting started in this position and carrying on the department’s legacy of excellence."
According to the Baltimore Banner, Dixon will oversee 1,000 people with a budget around $121 million.
"I am honored and humbled by the opportunity to serve as the next leader for the Baltimore County Fire Department," Dixon told the television station. "I am confident that my new teammates will provide me with the support needed to hit the ground running and continue this department’s legacy of excellent service."
Peter Matthews | Editor-in-Chief/Conference Director
Peter Matthews is the conference director and editor-in-chief of Firehouse. He has worked at Firehouse since 1999, serving in various roles on both Firehouse Magazine and Firehouse.com staffs. He completed an internship with the Rochester, NY, Fire Department and served with fire departments in Rush, NY, and Laurel, MD, and was a lieutenant with the Glenwood Fire Company in Glenwood, NY. Matthews served as photographer for the St. Paul, MN, Fire Department.
